Ethiopia Media Council (EMC) today urged media outlets in the country and outside to stop sensationalizing the internal conflict within the Ethiopian orthodox Church.
In its statement EMC indicated that recently some media outlets have been engaged in unethical journalism in relation to reporting the internal conflicts within the Ethiopian orthodox Church.
The statement indicated that especially some religious media outlets and social media influencers have been engaged in disseminating negative information about other religions instead of using the media to teach their own doctrine.
Such unethical journalism is spreading fear within the society, according to the statement, which urged the media outlets from disseminating information that portrays Ethiopia as a center of conflict between different groups.
EMC, which has some 60 media outlets membership including from private and government, recalled that it is forbidden by the media law of Ethiopia to instigate conflict between followers of different religions. EMC urged all the media outlets to refrain from such acts and work towards peace and harmony among Ethiopians who lived for centuries peacefuly. The statement also urged the Government of Ethiopia to exercise rule of law before such religious conflicts lead the country to chaos.
Over the past few weeks tensions has been growing in Ethiopia following the separation announcement of a group from Ethiopian Orthodox Church, which claimed the illegality of the separatist group. Currently the case is being handled in court, which is expected to convene this week.
Though the Constitution of Ethiopia states that Government will not intervene in religious affairs, the latest statement by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, which mentions the illegal invasion of Orthodox Churches in some parts of Oromia Region, suggest that the separatist group has government backing. In relation to the issue, it is reported that since yesterday, Ethiopian Orthodox Church has launched a three days prayer informing its followers to wear black clothes.
The Church recently has also responded to the controversial comment of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia indicating that instead of protecting the Ethiopian Orthodox Church as an ancient legal institute he shouldn’t have treated the separatist group equally with the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, which has taken legal administrative measure against the separatist group.
In order to counter what it called “coup within Ethiopian Orthodox Church”, in its response the Ethiopian Orthodox Church indicated that it will organize demonstrations in the coming week and its struggle will go “as far as facing death”.